I recently bit the bullet and bought a new TV, an LG 55UB850T that was on a steep discount.
With the panel supporting 3840X2160 4K (2160p) at 100 Hz, I thought it would be perfectly matched for some 1080p and 4K gaming at 60 Hz using my HTPC. (1080p for current AAA titles, and 2160p for MMOs)
However, 2160p/60 is only supported on the one HDMI 2.0 connection on the TV. The other HDMI ports are version 1.4. No problem, I thought. I will just get an HDMI 1×3 or 1×4 switch.
How wrong I was.
Finding the cables was not difficult. As I don’t need cables longer than 3 m, any high speed HDMI cables would do. I ended up ordering the AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cables, in 3ft and 6ft, just so I don’t have to wade through unknown cable brands. These cable are also very cheap, with a 2-pack of 6ft cable costing just $9.99.
The search for HDMI switch, however, had turned into a mystical treasure hunt. Searching for “4K HDMI switch” on Amazon turns up many results. But a closer inspection will show that they support 1080p/60 and 2160p/30. Some tries to hide it, some specifies this explicitly. What none of the does is supporting 2160p/60.
I ended up finding a switch that does that not on Amazon, but B&H. The KanexPro 4K HDMI Switcher page stated that it supports the following resolutions:
- 4096x2160p 24/30
- 3840x2160p 60/50/30
- 1080p 60/50
The product page does not explicitly say it supports HDMI 2.0, but it comes the closest by specifying 2160p/60, so I ordered one for $69.95.
When the switched arrived, I was disappointed to see on the packaging that it supports bandwidth up to 10.8 Gbps rather than 18 Gpbs. Had this detail been listed on the product page, I might not have ordered it because my understanding is I needed 18 Gbps for 2160p/60.
To my surprise, the whole set up (HTPC with GTX 970, the new HDMI cables, the new HDMI switch, and the new TV) does work together to give me 2160p/60 playing Star Wars The Old Republic and a few other games.
It turns out there is another variable I had overlooked: chroma subsampling.
10.8Gbps will support 2160p/60 using 4:2:0. Going up to 18Gbps will allow 4:4:4. This means I had to turn off Ultra HD Deep Colour option on the TV. It is not perfect, but I can live with it. The TV does supports 2160p/60 using 4:4:4 chroma, so when a suitable switch comes around I can just switch it in.